Improvement in cylinders for polishing gunpowder



NITED STATES PATENT] OFFICE.

R.. H. CUNNINGHAM, OF SGHAGHTIGOKE, NEW. YORK, ASSIGNOR TO -WM. P. BLISS, OFSAME PLACE.

lMP ROVEMENT IN OYLlNDERS FOR POLISHING'GUNPOWDER.

Specification forming part of Lettcrs Patent No. 36,320, dated August 26, 1562.

To all w]: 0771/ it may concern:

Be it kuown'thatI, R. H. CUNNINGHAM, of Sehaghtieokc, in the county of Rensselaerand State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cylinders for Polishing Gunpowder; and I do hereby declare that the fbllowing is a fnl'l,olear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accoi'npanying d raw-i ngs, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a transverse"vertical sectionof my invention, the line a: to, Fig. 2, indicating the plane of section. Fig.1 2 is a plan or top view of thesame. Fig. 3 is a de" tached longitudinal section ofone of the valves,

ifaken in theplane indicated by the line y y,

Fig. 2.

' Similar letters of. reference in the three figures indicate corresponding parts. This invention consists .in the arrangementof a valve made of leather fastened'upon wood or other {suitable rigid material in such a manner that the leather constituting said valve keeps the form of the cylinder, and that it can easily be shut perfectly tight by passing a' wedge'through a staple projecting from the back of the valve. I

- It consists, further, in the arrangement of a stationarypiece of wood fastened upon the valve and let into theinner surface of the cyl? inder, and held there by screws, whether of 'woodo r of metal, in such a manner thatthe leathcn'constituting the valve isdrawn, up fiat against the-inner surface of the cylinder, and consequently causes as little unevenness as possible on said surface, thereby enabling the cylinder to produce a perfectly polished powder, which isnot cut or bruised.

To enable those skilled. in the art to fully understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it with re erence to the drawings. v

A 1' presents a cylinder or barrel made in the orcinary form of cylinders used for polishing gunpowder. This "cylinder is provided with three more or less) apertures, c, which serve to introduce the powder into the barrel and to discharge it .nm the same. Saidapertures are closed by valves B, the construction and arrangement of which form the subject of my invention. The valves of the ordinary construction have several serious defects. In

the first place, the means employed for fast eniug the valves produce an unequal surface upon the inside of the. cylinder, whereby the 'powder is cut or bruised, so that it cannot be perfectly finished. Besides this, the valves never close tight, allowing more or less powmode the valves cannot be fastened so as to exclude the air until the necessary heat is ob tained to glaze the powder quickly and well. These defects are obviated by my valve,which is constructed of a piece of leather, I), that is attached to a block of wood or metal, 0, and

- to a strip of wood or metal, d. The inner surfaces of the block a and strip d are so shaped.

that they conform exactly to the inner surface of the cylinder, and that they hold the leather in the proper shape to conform to said surface of the cylinder, and to close up tightly on the same. The strip d is fastened to the leather 7 by means of some cement, audit is let into the inner surface of the cylinder and, fastened by' means of one or more screws, e,..of wood or metal, in such a' position that .the'leather is drawn up tight on the inner surface of the cylinder. The block c fits into the corresponding' aperture, a, in the cylinder,- and it isprovided with-a staple, f, projecting above the outer surface of. the barrel far enough to adunit a wedge or key, By means of this key the valveis drawn up and the leather fits perfectly tight all'around. the edge of the aperture, so that not a particle of powder can escape whether the key be in or out; and, furthermore, by driving the key g the valve can be made to close air-tight on the inner surface of the cylinder, so that'the necessary heat is developed in the interior of the barrel for glazing and'polishing the powder. When the heat is sufficiently high, the keys are withdrawn and the valves open and close alter .natelyas the cylinder revolves. The edges of thepiece of leather b are :chamfered off, so that they'do not cut or bruise the powder,and

that said piece causes as little unevenness as possible on the inner surface of the cylinder.

When it is desired to open the valve, the key g is withdrawn, and the cylinder can now conveniently be charged ordischarged. a I

Having now fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l 1. The arrangement and combination of the piece of leather b, with the block of wood or metal 0 and strip d, each being shaped to correspond to the inner surface of the cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2.- The arrangement of the stationary strip d, let into the inner surface-of the cylinder, in combination with the valve B, 'as and for the purpose shown and specified.

R. H. CUNNING HAM.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. QUACKENBUSH, M. M. WIQKES. 

